Road Connectivity of Divisions of Rajasthan: A Network-Theoretic Assessment Using Connectivity and Topological Indices
Author(s): Ram Prakash Somani, Sudesh Kumari
Publication #: 2604020
Date of Publication: 11.04.2026
Country: India
Pages: 1-5
Published In: Volume 12 Issue 2 April-2026
Abstract
Transport networks shape regional cohesion not only through infrastructural expansion but through their structural configuration. This study examines the divisional road system of Rajasthan, India’s largest state by area, using a weighted graph-theoretic framework to evaluate connectivity intensity, hierarchical dominance, accessibility distribution, and structural resilience. Divisional headquarters are conceptualized as nodes linked by major inter-divisional corridors, with edge weights representing spatial separation. A suite of global connectivity indices (Beta, Gamma, Alpha, Density) are employed to quantify network organization. Results reveal a moderately connected yet highly centralized configuration, with Jaipur and ajmer functioning as the principal intermediary node and controlling a substantial proportion of shortest-path flows. Peripheral divisions exhibit lower accessibility scores and limited structural redundancy. Simulation-based corridor disruption demonstrates measurable efficiency decline, highlighting systemic sensitivity to central link removal. The findings underscore the importance of incorporating network topology and redundancy diagnostics into regional infrastructure planning, particularly in geographically heterogeneous territories. By advancing a structural interpretation of sub-state road connectivity, this study contributes to transport geography, spatial planning, and regional resilience discourse.
Keywords: transport network topology, connectivity indices, regional accessibility, Divisions of Rajasthan
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